The Cyclones are on a three-game losing streak to open up the Big 12 season, and it’s clear something needs to change going forward.

One major concern fans have is the lack of offensive production in recent weeks. The defense played airtight against Kansas and Kansas State, but the offense couldn’t muster enough points to win.

After the game Saturday, head coach Matt Campbell took the blame for the loss. The offense has the talent to be great, but with the season halfway through, something needs to change fast.

Campbell met with the media Tuesday to ease some of the worries and discuss what the team needs to focus on going forward.

“Do I have faith that we will get where we need to be offensively? I really do,” Campbell said.

The coaching staff has had elite offensive success in the past. Of course, there are many new pieces on the offense, and players are still getting accustomed to the fast-paced college atmosphere.

Not only that, the Big 12 is home to some of the nation’s most unforgiving and aggressive defenses. Yards are hard to come by in any Big 12 game, and that’s true for Iowa State’s opponents as well.

Despite the strength of the defenses the Cyclones played, Campbell thinks the struggles are closer to home.

“I don’t know if it’s so much of what defenses are doing as much as it is at times some of the inconsistencies that we’ve had,” Campbell said. “You look back at the game, and it’s like, man, where do you want to point the finger?”

The Cyclones have struggled to score more than 11 points in half of their games this season. The offense has been stagnant in the last two losses for various reasons.

Campbell noted how Dekkers has missed open receivers at points or that dropped balls have halted offensive drives. Even veteran players have been inconsistent, such as Xavier Hutchinson dropping a pass in the end zone Saturday.

Along with that, the offensive line hasn’t been fully healthy, which causes Dekkers to fight for his life on some plays. The biggest inconsistency on the offense has been the run game or lack thereof.

“We as coaches got to continue to find the best ways to help them be the most consistent they can be,” Campbell said.

It was clear that Jirehl Brock wasn’t 100% after his injury in the Kansas game, which limited Iowa State’s options on the ground. If the Cyclones can get Brock back, that burst onto the scene at the beginning of the season, the run game should improve.

At the end of the day, it’s a work in progress. The offense is young, and Campbell thinks it should get better with time.

“That’s one of the great rewards about this team,” Campbell said. “Man, there is a lot of young guys, and you see drastic improvements from game one to six.”

It may not seem like the team has improved when looking at the offensive struggles, but the competition in the Big 12 is a huge ramp-up from the non-conference games. Campbell still has full trust in this team and can see a bright future ahead.

With the help of veteran players to guide the young team, growth will come in time. Campbell has nothing but praise for the work that the team leaders have put in.

“This senior class may be one of the best ones we’ve had,” Campbell said. “Man, their whole purpose has been to lead. And leadership is not just when it goes good, the ability to lead when maybe you’re not exactly getting the result.”

The leadership and the defense’s success are why Campbell and the team are still optimistic. After Saturday’s loss, Campbell said the team was just inches away, not miles.

On Tuesday, Campbell reaffirmed how close the team is. One small thing going in Iowa State’s favor could have been the decider in each loss.

With just six games left of the regular season, the Cyclones need to figure out what they can do to turn those losses into wins.

“We’ve got the players, we know how to get it done and we’ve done it,” Campbell said. “It’s just doing it with great consistency, and that’s what we’re lacking.”